Cooking in the Classroom

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

I enjoy helping out at Boy and Girl's primary school when I can and I'm always the first to volunteer if they need any help with baking. As a result of a session making shortbread with P6 for Burns night I came up with a plan. I had been really saddened how many of the kids in the class had never cooked or baked before so approached the headmaster to ask if I could come in and cook with the pupils one morning a week. He bit my hand off. So here's what we made last term, all with the aim of tying in with the class project.

All the kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy their cooking experience and the vast majority ate their creations with enthusiasm. Some trying foods for the first time. Much excitement in sharing their dishes with their Class Teachers, Headmaster and the Janitor.

Big thanks must also go to the Mums who helped me during the term. Nikola, Lisa, Marie, Sarah, Kirsteen and Pauline. I couldn't have done it without them.

I thoroughly enjoyed sharing some of my knowledge within the neglected Home Economics Department of the school and hope they'll have me back for more this term. Anything which helps to raise the profile and importance of food education can only be a good thing. Cooking is such an important life skill and unless our kids have the opportunity to learn about where food comes from, healthy eating choices and practical cooking skills the diet and health of Scotland is unlikely to change for the better. If I can play even a tiny part in this then all for the good. ETA 26/8/13 Even Mr Nairn thinks so!

Claire is a Scottish food and travel writer based in Aberdeen who has been blogging her edible adventures since 2012. A mum of two and wife of one, she is passionate about cooking from scratch, seasonality, food education and family-friendly recipes.